I take the seat without a word, glancing at her as I do.
Her cheeks flush pink as she meets my gaze. “Good evening, sir.”
I grit my teeth. “Evening, Miss Morrone.”
“You two are both late,” Oak says, glaring at me.
I shrug. “Sorry, got held up.”
He arches a brow, but doesn’t question me. The fact is, I’m late because I didn’t really want to come. I do not know what Archer’s excuse is, since he’s the one that set this fucking thing up.
“This is nice, isn’t it, Adrianna?” Archer asks, sitting too close to her.
The girl looks about ready to punch him in the throat. “Not particularly.”
Eva clears her throat. “When are you going to stop harassing Adrianna, Archer?” she questions, glaring at him.
I’m surprised Eva questions him, but to be fair, she’s got Oak to protect her. If anyone gives Eva any shit, I’m pretty sure he’ll kill them, even if it is Archer.
“I’ll stop once she gives me what is mine.”
Eva’s expression turns furious. “And what is that?”
He smirks as he lifts a glass to his lips. “Adrianna knows.” He takes a sip.
“I don’t owe you shit,” she says.
I turn toward Camilla. “What’s your take on this situation?”
Her lips purse. “I think you know after what I got sent to you for other day.”
I smirk. “Indeed. But you didn’t learn your lesson, did you?”
Camilla’s cheeks turn as red as a cherry now. “I don’t know, sir.”
“Not very convincing, Miss Morrone. Perhaps I need to try harder next time.”
“Next time?” she squeaks, her voice so high pitched it’s adorable.
I lean even closer to her, enjoying the effect I seem to have on her. “In two weeks, I’ve had to punish you three times. And yet before that, it had been once in your entire SA career. Something tells me we’re going to be seeing more of each other this year, or am I wrong?”
Her throat bobs as she grabs her drink and takes a long gulp. “I don’t know, sir.”
I reach for her wrist beneath the table and find her pulse, which races the moment my hands are on her. “Tell me the truth, Camilla. Have you been getting in trouble on purpose?” I keep my voice quiet, so that no one else at the table hears.
Her eyes widen as she tries to reclaim her hand, but I keep my grip tight. “No,” she says simply, her eyes narrowed.
Her pulse jumps the moment she lies.
I lean closer to her. “You’re lying to me, Miss Morrone.”
She licks her lips, drawing my attention to them.
I want to bite on them until they bleed. “Tell me the truth.”
Her eyes dilate slightly as she takes a long sip of her drink and then leans closer to me. “The truth is, sir, that I love getting punished and so I’ve been acting like a brat to get sent to you, yes.”
Her confession makes something inside of me heat, as it’s the confirmation I need. Camilla Morrone wants me in the most primal way and I’m more than tempted to give her what she wants, if only to see her run away screaming. The thing I fear the most is that even when she sees the extent of my depraved tastes, she’ll remain and enjoy it.